Theatrical illusion device.



S. GOLDINI.

THEATRICAL !LLUS|0N DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 010.1,1915.

1,1 83,554. Patented May 16, 1916.

WITNESS INVENTOR IINITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

STEPHEN GOLDINI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

THEATRICAL ILLUSION DEVICE.

Application filed December 1, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN GoLDINI, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Theatrical Illusion Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a theatrical illusion device, and the object of the invention is to provide a device by which theatrical artists are enabled to carry on dances accompanied by spectacular lighting effects and flashes the resulting effect to the audience being that of the artist dancing in fire or among white hot sparks.

Devices have heretofore been suggested which produce the general illusory effects of an artist dancing in fire or among sparks, such, 6. 9., as the well known Fuller Patent 648,493, where the effect is entirely mechanical, and my allowed application Serial No. 36,437, wherein the effect is purely electrical. However, the present invention is an improvement over both the devices aforesaid and produces remarkable efiects through the medium of extremely simple mechanism.

In its broadest aspect, the present invention embodies a rotating member having a rough or gritty surface, with which is adapted to engage a metallic member. The rotating member is operated at high speed, with the result that the metallic member is worn away, said wearing being accompanied by a large number of sparks which are thrown upwardly through the surface on which the artist dances. These sparks fly about the legs of the artist and give the appearance of one dancing or standing in fire.

In one of its preferred practical forms, the invention embodies an incasing housing in which is positioned one or more emery wheels adapted to be driven at a constant speed by any suitable means. Mounted for engagement with the periphery of each wheel is a metallic rod normally held out of engagement with the wheel, or at least only engaging said wheel lightly. The top of the housing is formed of one or more parts which are pivoted to the body of the housing and are normally held in partially elevated position by suitable resilient means. With the pivoted top cooperates a member adapted to engage with the metallic rod so Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916. Serial No. 64,417.

that, when a dancer steps upon the top of the housing, the metallic rod is forced against the wheel and sparks result. These sparks issue through apertures in the top or cover of the housing, and, as the artist dances about the top thereof, the sparks fly up about his or her legs with the resulting fire-like effect.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the present invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a housing constructed to carry out the present invention in one of its forms. Fig. 2 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 8 and 4 are transverse vertical sections taken on lines 33 and 44, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a housing formed with a suitable base a, sides a, and a cover B. This housing may be of any shape or contour desired and of any size applicable to the particular act which it is desired to carry out. Moreover, thehousing may be provided with suitable ornamentations totake away the bare effect thereof, or said housing,when positioned upon a stage, may be entirely concealed from the audience by suitable scenic effects placed in front of said housing. The foregoing are entirely dependent upon the particular act to be carried out, and may be varied to suit the taste.

Positioned longitudinally of the housing and interiorly thereof is a shaft 0, which is rotatably mounted in two or more standards 0 secured to the base of the housing. The shaft is normally driven at high speed through the medium of a pulley c, which is driven through a belt 0 from an electric motor 0 or any other suitable source of power. Fixed upon shaft C are one or more abrading members, herein shown as two emery wheels D D. As the motor 0 operates, these emery wheels are rotated at high speed in the same direction. The cover B of the housing, in this preferred form of construction, is pivoted along one of its edges, as at B, to the adjacent side a of the housing, and, in the specific construction illustrated, said cover is divided transversely into two substantially equal parts Z) Z). Near the opposite edge of each of the parts 6 b of the cover is positioned a depending plunger or stem (Z which is secured to the cover and is adapted to fit into a sleeve cl mounted within housing A and secured to the base a thereof. Positioned within sleeve (Z and below stem (Z is a coiled spring (Z the tension of which spring against the lower end of stem cl normally elevates the same and causes the cover to be slightly elevated, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4:. It will be manifest, however, that, if sufficient weight is imposed upon cover B, such, 6. 51., as the weight of a person standing thereon, the cover may be depressed to its closed position against the tension of spring (Z Pivotally mounted interiorly of the housing and secured to the base thereof, in juxtaposition with each of the wheels D D, is a socket E, into which is adapted to be inserted one end of a metallic rod 6, said rod being secured in place by a set screw e. Rod 6 is of such length as to extend upwardly, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3, and to lightly engage with the periphery of the corresponding wheel D. In the normal operation of the device, i. 6., when no weight is imposed upon cover B, rod 6 engages with the wheel D so lightly that no sparks result, but means is provided whereby, when a person steps upon cover 13, the rod will be pressed against the wheel with such force as to cause the wheel to grind away portions of the rod. The friction due to this grinding away of the rod, or abrading the same, causes the particles worn away to be thrown oil the wheel, by centrifugal force, in the form of sparks, and these sparks find egress from the housing through apertures of suitable form, herein shown as slots f f which are positioned above and in juxtaposition with the Wheels D D, respectively.

The means referred to for impelling rod 0 against wheel D is herein shown as embodying spring-pressed plungers G, one of which is associated with the rod of each wheel and slidfably fits into the sleeve 9 fixed to the cover sections 6 b. A spring g is positioned within the sleeve 9 to maintain plunger G- at all times in engagement with rod 6. The tension of spring g is, when the cover is elevated, of such trivial nature as not to force rod 6 to a perceptible extent against wheel D. However, when a person steps upon the cover section b, e. 9., said section will assume its closed position and, in so doing, will depress plunger G. Plunger G, however, is in engagement with rod 6 and cannot be depressed to any marked degree. The result, therefore, will be that spring 9 is placed under considerable tension, which tension is imparted to plunger G, thereby forcing rod 6 tightly against the periphery of wheel D. Bearing in mind that wheel D is of an abrasive character, such, 6. 9., as an emery wheel, it will be manifest that considerable sparking will result, due to the reasons hereinbefore enumerated. Manifestly, the means described for forcingrod 6 against emery wheel D is not the only means which might be employed to carry out this function, and the invention is not limited to this specific means. Nevertheless, the mechanism described operates with great efficiency, particularly in that the rod is not rigidly forced against the wheel, but, due to the resiliency of spring 9, the rod will be maintained in engagement with the wheel, since, as the rod wears away, spring 9 will continue to impel the rod forwardly to bring new parts of the rod into engagement with the wheel.

In the foregoing description, I have set forth the preferred means for carrying out the-present invention. As the act or performance is generally practised, an artist mounts cover 13 of the housing and proceeds to dance. For this reason, the cover is preferably divided into two parts or sections 7) 2'), so that each foot of the artist controls one of the sections. Thus, 6. 9., the right foot would control section 7), whereas the left foot would control section b. WVhe'n the weight of the performer is imposed upon the right foot and the corresponding section 1), rod 6 will be forced against wheel D, and sparks will issue from aperture f. In a corresponding manner, when the weight is imposed upon the left foot and the section Z), spar {S will issue from aperture 7. Thus, as the artist executes fancy dancing steps, sparks intermittently fly up through the apertures in sections 1) b and about the artists legs, and said sparks are entirely dependent upon his or her will. "When the artist finishes the act and steps off cover B, said cover is immediately elevated by spring-controlled plunger (Z cooperating therewith, thereby releasing rods 0 from tight engagement with wheels D D, and thus discontinuing sparking between the parts.

As actors perform in diiferent places and it is necessary to move the apparatus from one theater to another, the preferred form of the lnvention is that of a casing or housmg in which the entire apparatus is included, so that it may be readily hipped from place to place without necessitating dismantling or a considerable period for setting up. It will be understood, however, that, if the actis to be played for an extended period in any one place, where the traveling or shipping feature is not one of importance, the casing form of the invention may be dispensed with entirely, and the parts corresponding to cover B might then be simply pivoted platforms cooperating with a fixed stage or other suitable base. Moreover, while the cover is shown as embodying two sections, each of which is formed with a slot, said cover might readily be formed from perforated sheet metal, or might be in the form of a screen, the essential particular being that apertures are provided whereby sparks may pass through the cover and fly up beyond the surface thereof. So far as the particular number of wheels and corresponding sections of the cover are concerned, the invention is to be understood as covering one or more sections, as, if desired, six or eight sections might be employed, on which apparatus three or four artists might perform. a

The present invention may be used separately in the carrying out of an act, or may be used in conjunction with other acts. E. 9., in my prior application, Serial No. 36,429, hereinbefore referred to, an electrode is described for the carrying out of electrical dancing.

It will be manifest that such an electrode or electrodes may be employed in conjunction with the present apparatus, and the resulting combination is found to produce the most beautiful stage efi'ects. It will be understood that, in the use of such electrodes with the apparatus of this invention, the electrodes would be positioned upon the sections of the cover. With such a combination as described, the placing of the foot of the artist upon one of the sections will cause electric flashes from the electrodes and an upward throwing of sparks from the emery wheel. As the electric sparks and the mechanical sparks are of different colors, a pleasing, and at the same time most aweinspiring, effect is produced.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention is susceptible to many uses, either separately or in conjunction with other devices, and that the mechanism for carrying out the invention may be slightly changed or modified in adapting the invention to its various environments. Accordingly, the invention is to be understood as not restricted to the specific mechanism shown in the drawings, but as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is":

1. In a theatrical illusion device, an apertured platform on which a performer may stand, an abrading member positioned beneath said platform, means for rotating said member, and a metallic member in engagement with said abrading member whereby the sparks resulting from the contact of the gag metallic member with the abrading member fly upwardly through the apertured platform and about the legs of the performer.

2. In a theatrical illusion device, an apertured platform on which a performer may stand, an abrading member positioned beneath said platform, means for rotating said member, a metallic member, and means dependent upon the performer for impelling the metallic member into engagement with the abrading member whereby the sparks resulting from the contact of the metallic member with the abrading member fly upwardly through theapertured platform and about the legs of the performer.

3. In atheatrical illusion device, a pivoted apertured platform on which a performer may stand, an abrading member positioned beneath said platform, means for rotating said member, a metallic member, and means dependent upon the pivotal movement of the platform for impelling the metallic member into engagement with the abrading member whereby the sparks resulting from the contact of the metallic member with the abrading member fly upwardly through the apertured platform and about the legs of the performer.

4. In a theatrical illusion device, the combination of a pivoted apertured platform, means for normally maintaining the platform in elevated position, an abrading member positioned beneath the platform, means for rotating the abrading member, a metallic member, and connections between the metallic member and the platform for controlling the engagement of the metallic member with the abrading member whereby, when a performers weight is imposed upon the platform, the metallic member engages with the abrading member with the result that the sparks due to such engagement fly upwardly through the apertures in the platform and about the legs of the performer.

5. In a theatrical illusion device, the combination of a plurality of pivoted members, abrading members positioned beneath said pivoted members, means for driving said abrading members, metallic members positioned adjacent the abrading members, said metallic members being movable by the pivoted members into engagement with the abrading members for the purpose of causing sparking between the abrading members and the metallic members.

6. In a theatrical illusion device, the combination of a plurality of apertured pivoted members, an abrading member positioned beneath each of said pivoted members, means for rotating said abrading members, metallic members positioned adjacent the abrading members, and connections between the pivoted members and the metallic members whereby pivotal move- 'me'nt of the pivoted members shifts the metallic members into and out of engagement with the abrading members for the purpose of causing sparking between the abrading members and the metallic members at will.

7. In a theatrical illusion device, a pivoted apertured platform, means for normally elevating said platform, a rotatable abrading member positioned beneath the platform, means for rotating the abrading member, and a pivoted metallic member in juxtaposition with said rotatable member, in combination with a spring-controlled member cooperating with the pivoted platform and engaging with the metallic member whereby, when the platform is depressed, the spring is placed under tension and forces the metallic member against the rotatable member, with the result that said metallic member is abraded, the worn-ofi portions being thrown oif in sparks which pass through the apertured platform.

8. In a theatrical illusion device, a pivoted apertured platform, resilient means for normally elevating said platform, a rotatable abrading member positioned beneath the platform, means for rotating the abrading member, and a pivoted metallic member in juxtaposition with said rotatable member, in combination with a spring-controlled member cooperating with the pivoted platform and engaging with the metallic member whereby, when the platform is depressed, the spring is placed under tension and forces the metallic member against the rotatable member, with the result that said metallic member is abraded, the worn-off portions being thrown oif in sparks which pass through the apertured platform.

9. In a theatrical illusion device, a housing provided with a pivoted apertured cover divided into two sections, resilient means for normally elevating said sections of the cover, a plurality of abrading wheels positioned interiorly of the casing and in juxtaposition with the apertures in the cover sections, means for rotating said abrading wheels, and metallic members lightly engaging with the peripheries of said wheels, in combination with a plurality of depressing members positioned on the cover sections and cooperating with the metallic members for forcing the metallic members against the abrading wheels when the cover sections are depressed whereby the sparks resulting from the wearing away of the metallic members by the abrading wheels are thrown upwardly through the apertured sections of the cover.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

STEPHEN GOLDINI.

Gopiei; of this Iiatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 1).0." 

